<sect1 id="gui-start">
	<title>Overview</title>

	<para>This part of the <application>Gnumeric</application>
	manual explains the pieces of the software that users can
	manipulate. The menus, the toolbars and the cell grid area
	comprise what is called the graphical user interface of an
	application because it is an interface --- a way to interact
	with Gnumeric --- which is made of graphical elements ---
	pictures --- designed to be used by human users.</para>

	<para><application>Gnumeric</application> opens by default
	with a view of an empty workbook which is called "Book 1" and
	with a single worksheet called "Sheet 1" as can be seen in
	<xref linkend="gnumeric-labelled.png">. The outermost portion
	of the window is not actually part of
	<application>Gnumeric</application> and may look different on
	different machines. <application>Gnumeric</application>
	attempts to place its name and the name of the workbook on
	this outer portion.</para>

	<para>The majority of spreadsheet work is done while
	interacting with this view of
	<application>Gnumeric</application>. All of the functions
	which <application>Gnumeric</application> provides can be
	accessed quickly from here. The graphic elements of
	<application>Gnumeric</application> are made of several
	independent pieces.  <xRef linkend="gnumeric-labelled.png">
	shows a newly opened, empty Gnumeric with the principle
	elements labelled.</para>
		<figure id="gnumeric-labelled.png">
 		   <title>The Gnumeric worksheet elements.</title>
 		   <screenshot>
  		    <graphic fileref="figures/gnumeric-labelled.png"></graphic>
 		   </screenshot>
 		 </figure>
	<para>The elements names are listed below along with a reference to
	the section that discusses that element. Those reading this document
	on their computers may be able to click on the references to jump to
	that section of the manual.</para>

	<variablelist>

    	  <varlistentry>
			<term>
	  			<guiicon>
				<inlinegraphic fileref="figures/label-one.png">
                </inlinegraphic>
	    		The menubar.
	  			</guiicon>
			</term>
			<listitem>
	  		<para>The menubar provides access to the core
	  		functions of gnome. Almost everything that can
	  		be done in <application>Gnumeric</application>
	  		can be done through the menus. The menus and
	  		menubar are discussed in <xRef
	  		linkend="menus">. </para>
			</listitem>
    	  </varlistentry>

    	  <varlistentry>
			<term>
	  			<guiicon>
				<inlinegraphic fileref="figures/label-two.png">
				</inlinegraphic>
	    		The standard toolbar.
	  			</guiicon>
			</term>
			<listitem>
	  		<para>The standard toolbar provides shortcuts for
	  		the most used items in the menus. The toolbars are
	  		discussed in <xRef linkend="toolbars"> and this
	  		toolbar in particular in <xRef
	  		linkend="std-toolbar">. </para>
			</listitem>
    	  </varlistentry>


    	  <varlistentry>
			<term>
	  			<guiicon>
				<inlinegraphic fileref="figures/label-three.png">
				</inlinegraphic>
	    		The format toolbar.
	  			</guiicon>
			</term>
			<listitem>
	  		<para>The format toolbar changes the display
	  		properties of data in the workbook. It is presented
	  		in <xRef linkend="fmt-toolbar">, part of the general
	  		discussion of toolbars of <xRef
	  		linkend="toolbars">. </para>
			</listitem>
    	  </varlistentry>


    	  <varlistentry>
			<term>
	  			<guiicon>
				<inlinegraphic fileref="figures/label-four.png">
				</inlinegraphic>
	    		The data entry area.
	  			</guiicon>
			</term>
			<listitem>
	  		<para>The data entry area is useful for the
	  		modification of complex formulas. It is discussed in
	  		<xRef linkend="data-entry">. </para>
			</listitem>
    	  </varlistentry>


    	  <varlistentry>
			<term>
	  			<guiicon>
				<inlinegraphic fileref="figures/label-five.png">
				</inlinegraphic>
	    		The information area.
	  			</guiicon>
			</term>
			<listitem>
	  		<para>This area is used by
	  		<application>Gnumeric</application> to give
	  		feedback on the status of certain
	  		operations. This information is explained in
	  		<xRef linkend="info-area">. </para>
			</listitem>
    	  </varlistentry>


    	  <varlistentry>
			<term>
	  			<guiicon>
				<inlinegraphic fileref="figures/label-six.png">
				</inlinegraphic>
	    		The object toolbar.
	  			</guiicon>
			</term>
			<listitem>
	  		<para>This toolbar enables the user to draw graphic
	  		elements on the sheet, such as text labels, big red circles
			or thin green arrows. These can be used to bring attention 
			to a particular part of a worksheet. The object toolbar is 
			explained in <xref linkend="obj-toolbar"> in the <xref
			linkend="toolbars"> portion of the manual.</para>
			</listitem>
    	  </varlistentry>

		  <varlistentry>
			<term>
				<guiicon>
				<inlinegraphic fileref="figures/label-seven.png">
				</inlinegraphic>
				The cell grid area.
				</guiicon>
				</term>
			<listitem>
			<para>The cell area lies in the middle of all the
			rest. The cell area includes the row and column
			labels, the scrollbars and the tabs below. The use
			of these elements is explained in <xRef
			linkend="cell-grid">.</para>
			</listitem>
		  </varlistentry>

	</variablelist>

	<para>The next chapters will explain each of these elements. <xref
	linkend="menus"> will explain the menus, <xref linkend="toolbars"> 
	will explain the toolbars and <xref linkend="other-elements"> 
	will explain the remaining elements.</para>

        <!-- A few of these functions are complicated (and powerful) so
	they are explained in larger sections later in the manual. The next
	section gives references to those detailled so that readers looking
	for advanced information can skip to those sections directly. -->


</sect1>
  

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